MINISTER of Public Works and Transport, Mr. Robeson Benn, addressed developments with the Demerara Harbour Bridge in the National Assembly last week, when the matter of having a new bridge in another seven to 10 years came up for discussion. “We have discussed with the harbour bridge management the issue of having a new bridge…we believe we can hold this bridge together for the next seven to10 years. We think by then we will need a replacement,” he said.
Benn noted that the pre-feasibility studies on the site location, geo-technical investigation will be looked at this year.
“This is a forward-looking project, as the serviceability of the bridge decreases with the increased volumes of traffic,” he said.
According to the Minister, new vehicles number over 9,000 annually, which the national infrastructure networks must respond to, including widening of roads, upgrading traffic light facilities and street lighting, among others.

Improved
In the meantime, he contends that there has been improvement in the management and rehabilitation of the structure.
“We have had a recent change of major components of the bridge, which under normal circumstances lasted eight or more hours, now done in four hours.
He added that the introduction of cameras translates to a freer and faster flow of traffic, especially needed in light of the increased number of vehicles traversing the facility. “This is working very well,” he said.
Benn noted that in the last year, 29 pontoons were serviced, 30 beams fabricated, 1,328 tech-plates fabricated and 82 buoys fabricated, among other interventions made.
The Demerara Harbour Bridge is a 6,074-foot (1,851m) long floating toll bridge. It was commissioned on 2 July, 1978.